Common Valerian

From ancient time, Valeriana officinalis has been used as a medicinal herb. It is native to Europe ans Asia. It is well known for its sedative and antispasmodic effects worldwide. Valerian root tea is famous for its sleep-inducing effects. There are many natural chemicals present in the root, stem, and leaf of V. officinalis plant. In the present scenario the demands of herbal products are growing exponentially throughout the world. For Alzheimer disease (AD) treatment, there are many medicinal plants being used to enhance memory. It is also used as spices and culinary herbs. An essential oil from the leaves and root is used as a flavouring in ice cream, baked goods, condiments etc.

 Valeriana (Spanish), Herbe aux chats (French), Echter Baldrian (German), Valeriana silvestre (Italian), Vaenderot (Swedish).

Grows in grassland, scrub, woods etc, on dry or damp soils. Avoids acid soils. Thrives in full sun or in partial shade, doing well in light woodland.It succeeds in ordinary garden soil, preferring a rich heavy loam in a moist site.

• Root - scented, brown taproot.
• Stem - featuring a clump of deeply lobed basal foliage from which rise tall, slender, sparsely-leaved stems topped.
• Leaves - odd-pinnate, each leaf having 7-10 pairs (plus terminal) of toothed, lance-shaped leaflets. Leaves are aromatic when bruised.
• Flower - fragrant, white to pale pink flowers in branched panicles (cymes to 5-10 cm wide). 
• Fruit - brown oval.
• Seed - black round.

• Generative propagation is by seed - sow spring in a cold frame and only just cover the seed because it requires light for germination. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant out into their permanent positions in the summer if sufficient growth has been made. If the plants are too small to plant out, grow them on in the greenhouse or frame for their first winter and plant them out early in the following summer.
• Vegetative propagation is by division. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is best to pot up smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse or cold frame until they are growing away well.

Alkaloids (actinidine, chatinine, shyanthine, valerianine and valerine), valepotriat (isovaltrate and valtrate), sesquiterpenes (essential oils: valerenat acid, hydroxy valerat acid and acetoxy valerat acid), flavanon (hesperidin, 6-methylapigenin, and linarin).

• The root is antispasmodic, carminative, diuretic, hypnotic, powerfully nervine, sedative and stimulant.
• It is used as a tranquilliser and nervine, particularly for those people suffering from nervous overstrain, to encourage sleep, improve sleep quality and reduce blood pressure.
• Used internally in the treatment of painful menstruation, cramps, hypertension, irritable bowel syndrome etc.
• Externally, it is used to treat eczema, ulcers and minor injuries.